Books
William Gilkerson was both an artist and a writer, whose publications reflect a lifelong engagement with maritime history, art, and storytelling. His body of work spans detailed historical studies such as The Ships of John Paul Jones, The Scrimshander, Maritime Arts, and Gilkerson on War; as well as fiction deeply rooted in those same worlds, including Ultimate Voyage and Pirate’s Passage, winner of the Governor General’s Award. He also authored the two-volume To Borders Away, an illustrated exploration of maritime life and seamanship.
Across these works, Gilkerson combined the precision of a historian with the sensibility of an artist. His narratives and illustrations alike explore the lives of sailors, explorers, and privateers, tracing the evolution of maritime life from the age of sail to the modern era.
Books by William Gilkerson that are still in print should be ordered from the publishers listed. Out-of-print titles may generally be located from one or another of the book-finding services that are available on the Web.
Pirate’s Passage - Written & Illustrated by William Gilkerson - Trumpeter Books Boston (2006) Reprinted in several editions in North America and abroad
Pirate’s Passage Audiobook ~ Narrated by Christian Rummel (2014) Audible Studios - English - 11 hours 57 minutes
Ultimate Voyage - Written & Illustrated by William Gilkerson - Shambhala Publications Boston (1998)
A Thousand Years of Pirates - Written & Illustrated by William Gilkerson - Tundra Books Canada (2009)
From Rocks to Rockets - Written & Illustrated by William Gilkerson - Osprey Books re-release re-format (orig. 1963)
Gilkerson on War - Written & Illustrated by William Gilkerson - Osprey Books - original formatting (1963)
Boarders Away Vol.I - Written & Illustrated by William Gilkerson - Andrew Mowbray, Inc., Lincoln, R.I. (1991)
Boarders Away Volume II - Written & Illustrated by William Gilkerson - Andrew Mowbray, Inc., Lincoln, R.I. (1991)
The Scrimshander - Written & Scrimshaw by William Gilkerson - Troubador Press San Francisco (1975)
Maritime Arts - Written & Illustrated by William Gilkerson - Peabody Museum of Salem MA (1981)
The Ships of John Paul Jones - Written & Illustrated by William Gilkerson - Naval Institute Press and the Beverley R. Robinson Collection, U.S. Naval Academy Museum (1987)
An Arctic Whaling Sketchbook - Written & Illustrated by William Gilkerson - Edward J. Lefkowicz, Inc. Fairhaven CT (1983)
American Whalers in the Western Arctic - Written & Illustrated by William Gilkerson - Edward J. Lefkowicz, Inc. Fairhaven CT (1983)
USS Constitution ~ Featuring Paintings & Drawings by William Gilkerson (1997-98)
24 Gun Ship Aquarelle featured in Jean Boudriot’s Treatise Series (1987)
Old Ironsides - The Rise, Decline, and Resurrection of the USS Constitution - Thomas C. Gillmer - Illustrated by William Gilkerson
Sailing around the World - Joshua Slocum - Illustrated by William Gilkerson
John Paul Jones and the Bonhomme Richard - Jean Boudriot - Illustrated by William Gilkerson
Pride of Baltimore - The Story of the Baltimore Clippers - Thomas C. Gillmer Illustrated by William Gilkerson
Injured Honor - The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair June 22,1807 - Spencer C. Tucker & Frank T. Reuter - Illustrated by William Gilkerson
Lieutenant Christopher - A novel of the Sea - William P. Mack - Illustrated by William Gilkerson
Mount Analogue - Rene Daumal - Illustrated by William Gilkerson
New Arabian Nights - Robert Louis Stevenson - Illustrated by William Gilkerson
Different Waterfronts - Stories from the Wooden Boat Revival - Peter H.Spectre - Illustrated by William Gilkerson
You Can’t Blow Home Again - Herb Payton - Illustrated by William Gilkerson